Device for making multiple exposures of images



g- 5, 1952 c. L. MOURFIELD DEVICE FOR MAKING MULTIPLE EXPOSURES OF IMAGES Filed July 31, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l CARL L. MOURF/ELD INVENTOR.

BY zM ATTORNEY g- 5, 1952 c. L/MOURFIELD 2,605,675-

DEVICE FOR mama MULTIPLE EXPOSURES 0F IMAGES Mum I! m .w 0 90 CARL L. MOURF/ELD 3 4/ 4.9 INVEN TOR.

W I gall Y 1 m l 0' /7 BY A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, 1952 DEVICE FOR MAKING MULTIPLE EXPOSURES OF IMAGES 'Carl L. Mourfield, Dallas, Tex.

Application July 31, 1950, Serial No. 176,790

4 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for making multiple regularly spaced exposures on a sheet of sensitized paper.

In the practice of photography, it is often necessary to make multiple reproductions or prints of an image from an original. Since the reproductions must necessarily be made in a dark room, the apparatus employed must be capable of being easily manipulated by touch alone successively to make a plurality of regularly spaced exposures of an original film or plate on a sheet of sensitized paper.

Accordingly, it is an objector my invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for making a plurality of regularly spaced exposures on a sheet of sensitized paper.

It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for making a plurality of regularly spaced exposures on a sheet of sensitized paper which can be easily manipulated by touch alone. a

It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for making a plurality of regularly spaced exposures of a selected size on a sheet of sensitized paper.

Briefly stated, my new and improved apparatus for making a plurality of regularly spaced exposures on a sensitized surface comprises a substantially rectangular base plate having a cover pivotally secured to one edge of the base plate and adapted to be disposed over said base plate. The cover is provided with an aperture through which an image may be projected toward the base plate. Mounted on the base plate for sliding movement along and transverse with respect to the base plate is a platform on which is mounted a tray for sliding movement in a direction perpendicular with respect to the direction of movement of the platform. Means are provided successively to move the tray and the platform a plurality of predetermined distances with respect to the base plate and the aperture in the cover. The tray is adapted to receive a sheet of sensitized paper over which is disposed a masking frame which holds the sheet down and insures that the reproductions formed on the sheet have regular sharply defined edges.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with ,the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my apparatus for making a plurality of regularly spaced exposures on a sheet of sensitized paper;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a masking frame employed with the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the cover in closed position;

'Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 3; 2

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus showing a sheet of sensitized paper in the tray; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawing, the apparatus comprises a substantially rectangular base plate |0 provided with L-shaped guides H and I2 which are rigidly secured to plate I0 adjacent the ends of plate |0. vA pair of spaced bars l3 and M which lie parallel and between guides H and I2 are also secured to plate I0. Guides [I and I2 and bars I3 and I4 may be secured to plate I0 in any conventional manner such as welding or riveting.

A platform I5 is slidably mounted on plate between guides II and I2 and has a bottom I5 which is supported by bars l3 and I4. Bottom I6 is provided with a pair of bars I! and I8 which abut bars l3 and I4 and prevent horizontal movement of platform IS in directions perpendicular to bars I3 and I4.

' In order to enable platform l5 successively to be moved predetermined distances parallel to bars l3 and I4, I provide a rectangular rod [9 having an end 20 provided with a threaded bore in which isengaged a screw 2|. The screw 2| is pivotally and rotatably secured to bottom [6 of platform |5 by means of a bracket 22 which is secured to projecting ears 23 and 24 of bottom l6 by means of bolts 25 and 26. The bracket 22 has a leg 21, extending perpendicularly from bottom l6 which is provided with an aperture 28 through which extends the screw 2|. It will be apparent that rod 19 is retained in place by the leg 21 of bracket 22 since the end 20 of rod l9 and the head of screw 2| abut opposite sides of leg 21 adjacent the aperture 28. The aperture 28 is of such dimension that vertical pivotal movement of rod l9 about the portion of screw 2| extending through aperture 28 may take place. The screw 2| is secured to end 20 of rod l9 against rotary movement with respect to rod l9 by a pin 29 which extends through suitable registering apertures in end 20 and screw 28. Rod |9 is also .proe.

3 vided with an annular recess 33 whose function will be described below.

Rod I9 is rectangular in shape and provided with a plurality of spaced transverse notches 33 in each side. The distances between the notches 33 in any one side of rod l9 are equal but the distances between the notches 33 in one side are not equal to the distances between the notches 33 in any of the other three'sides of rod |9. A catch 34 adapted to engage in one of the notches 33 is rigidly secured to an extension 35 rigidly secured to plate ID by means of rivets 36 or any other suitable fastening means. In order to limit the upward movement of rod IS, a bracket 3'! having ears 38 and 39 is secured to extension 35. Rod l9 passes through a slot 40 in bracket 31. Slot 40 is sufficiently large to allow free longitudinal movement of rod IS without engaging the notches 33 with the top of sides of slot 40 while permitting rod Hi to be moved upwardly to disengage a notch 33 from catch 34 and allowing rod [9 to be moved through slot 40 until another notch 33 is engaged by catch 34. Slot 43, however, is of such dimensions that rod |9 may not be rotated about its longitudinal axis unless rod I9 is moved to a position where the annular recess 30 is disposed in slot 40.

Platform I5 is provided with a pair of L- shaped guides 4| and 42 which are rigidly secured to bottom l5 adjacent its sides and which :2

lie perpendicular to bars I3 and |4. A rectangular tray 43 is mounted for sliding movement along and between guides 4| and 42. It will be apparent that the horizontal movement of tray 43 is in a direction perpendicular to the direction of horizontal movement of platform I5.

I provide a means for successively moving tray 43 predetermined distances parallel to guides 4| and 42 and along platform |5 which is similar to rod l9 and its associated structures for moving platform l5. Briefly, a rod 44 provided with notches 45 is pivotally and rotatably secured to tray 43 by means of a screw 46 and bracket 41. The notches 45 are adapted to be engaged by a catch 48 rigidly secured to an extension 43 of bottom l6. To limit the upward movement of rod 44 a slotted bracket 50 is secured to extension 49 by means of bolts 5|. The vertical leg 52 of guide I2 is cut away at 53 to permit extension 49 and rod 44 to be moved horizontally and perpendicularly with respect to platform l5. 7

A cover 53 is pivotally mounted on guides II and |2 by means of bolts 54 and 55 which extend through suitable apertures in guides and I2 and blocks 56 and 51, respectively. Blocks 5B and 5'! are secured to cover 53 by means of screws 58 and 55, respectively. A block 60 is secured to cover 53 adjacent one end of cover 53 by means of screws 6|. Pivotally secured to block 60 by means of a bolt 62 is a prop bar 63 which is employed to maintain cover 53 in the partially open position illustrated in Figure 1.

Cover 53 is provided with a central aperture 34 which is partially closed by a rectangular frame 65 secured to the bottom side of cover 53 for a purpose to be described below. Four hinges 55, 61, 68 and 69 are secured to the top surface of cover 53 adjacent the four sides of aperture 34. Masks Hi, 71, I2 and T3 are secured to hinges 66, 31, 63 and 63, respectively, and are adapted to be moved pivotally about their respective hinges into a position parallel to top 53 and within aperture 64. Mask T3 is shown in aperture 64 in Figures 1, 3 and 4. Masks T0,"!i, 12 and 13 are provided with rectangular apertures l4, i5, 16 and H, respectively, which are of unequal dimensions. Frame 65 prevents the passage of light between the edges of the masks l0 and 13 and the edges of the aperture 64 of cover 53.

In order that the sensitized paper 19 which is placed in tray 43 may be kept smoothly on the bottom of tray 43 and in order that the exposed portions of the sensitized paper have clearly defined edges, I provide a masking frame for each of the masks T0 to 13. The masking frame 80 is a grill which divides the sensitized paper into a plurality of areas of equal size and of such dimensions as to suitably conform with the dimensions of its associated mask 10, ll, 12 or 13. In any case, the correlation between the exposure orifices or apertures 14 to H of masks 10 to 13 and the corresponding areas defined by the cross-members of the masking frames 80 is the factor determining the size of the exposed portion of the sensitized paper, as well as insuring a clean cut margin for the finished picture. The notches 33 and 45 in one side of rod H3 and 44, respectively, are separated by a distance which will bring successive areas of the sensitized paper as defined by the masking frames 80 into centered position below the aperture of its associated mask 10, ll, 12 or 73. It will be obvious that the number of areas into which the paper is divided will vary with the sizes of the apertures in the masks 70 to 13 and therefore a separate masking frame must be provided for each mask 10 to 13. For example, the masking frame 83 of Figure 1 employed with mask 10 divides the sensitized paper 19 into 36 equal areas. Each of the rods |9 and 44 must therefore have one side which is provided with six appropriately spaced notches 33 and 45, respectively. If the mask H is employed, the masking frame 80" must be employed and the rods |3 and 45 must each have a side provided with two appropriately spaced notches 33 and 45, respectively.

In operation, a sheet 19 of sensitized paper is placed in tray 43 and an appropriate masking frame 33 is placed over the sensitized paper 19. The masking frame 80 fits snugly in tray 43 and prevents movement of the paper 19. The cover 53 is then closed and the image on a film or plate which is to be reproduced is projected through the aperture 14 in mask 10 onto the sensitized paper 78. Any suitable projecting means may be employed. The projecting means has been generally indicated by a lens 8| in Figure 4. Rods I9 and 44 are then pulled outwardly and the catches 34 and 48 engaged in the notches 33 and 45, respectively which are nearest screws 2| and 46 of rods L3 and 44, respectively. The tray 43 is then so positioned that the area 82 defined by masking frame 89 is directly beneath aperture 74. The exposure is then made, the projected image falling on area 82. Since the masking frame rests on the paper 13, the edges of the exposed area 32 will be sharply defined when the sensitized paper 79 is developed. After one exposure is made, one of the rods, say rod (9, is moved inwardly until the notch next closest to screw 2| is engaged by catch 34. This will bring area 83 directly beneath aperture 14. After area 83 is exposed, rod 3 is again moved inwardly until the next notch 33 is engaged by catch 34. After the areas in the outermost left row defined by masking frame 85 have been exposed, rod 44 is moved inwardly until the catch 48 engages the notch 45 second closest screw 43. This will bring the areas 84 successively underneath aperture 14 as rod 19 is moved successively outwardly. By manipulation of rods l9 and 44, all the areas defined by masking frame 80 can be successively exposed to the image projected through lens 8|. The sensitized paper 19 is then removed and developed. The plurality of reproductions thus formed on the successively exposed areas of the paper 13 can then be separated by appropriately cutting paper 19 into thirty six pieces.

If the reproductions desired are to be of larger size, the mask is pivoted about its hinge 66 and out of aperture 64. Mask H is then pivoted into aperture 84. A sheet 19 of sensitized paper is placed in tray 19 and the mask 84, Figure 2, is placed over paper T9. Rods l9 and 44 are then pulled outwardly until the annular recesses and 85 of rods l9 and 44, respectively, register with the slots in brackets 31 and 58, respectively. The rods l3 and 44 are then rotated until the sides of rods i9 and 44 which are provided with only two notches 33 and 45, respectively are in a position in which catches 34 and 48 will engage in their notches. Rods l9 and 44 are then moved inwardly until catches 34 and 48 engage in the notches 33 and 45, respectively, which are nearest screws 2| and 46, respectively. The rods I9 and 44 are then manipulated as above to bring the four areas of sheet 19 defined by frame 84' directly and successively beneath aperture 15 of mask H.

During each movement of tray 43, the rod [9 or 44 is lifted just enough to disengage catch 34 or 48 from the notch 33 or 45, respectively, in which it was engaged. The rod I9 or 44 is then moved sufficiently to place the notch 33 or 45 in nonalignment with the catch 34 or 48. The rod [9 or 44 is allowed to rest on the catch 34 or 48 so that as the rod l9 or 44 is moved relative to catch 34 or 48, the rod will fall as the next notch 33 or 45 passes the catch 34 or 48 to engage the catch 34 or 48 and stop further movement of rods [9 or 44. In this manner, the areas defined by the masks 80 can be easily and surely centered by touch alone beneath the aperture in the mask 10, ll, 12 or 13 which is in operative position in aperture 64 of cover 53. The rods l9 and 44 cannot be rotated unless they are in their outermost positions in which the annular recesses 29 and 85 register in the slots in brackets 31 and 50. Accidental rotation of the rods during the process of exposing a particular sheet 19 is thereby prevented. The various parts of the apparatus are painted black to prevent reflection of light onto the sensitized paper.

It will be apparent that among the advantages of the above described apparatus are its simplicity of construction, its ease of manipulation even in the dark, the prevention of accidental rotation of the rods l9 and 44, and the clearly defined edges formed by the use of masking frames 80.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A photographic apparatus comprising: a base; a platform slidably mounted on said base; a first rod pivotally secured to said platform for adjustably moving said platform in one direction along said base; said first rod being of polygonal cross section and having notches in its side faces; a first bracket secured to said base and having a slot slidably receiving said first rod to limit its vertical, pivotal movement, a first catch disposed beneath said first rod and secured to said base, said first catch being selectively engageable in said notches to limit movement of said first rod; an open topped tray slidably mounted on said platform; a second rod pivotally secured to said platform for adjustably moving said tray in a direction perpendicular to said one direction, said second rod being of polygonal cross section and having notches in its side faces; a second bracket secured to said platform and having a slot slidably receiving said second rod to limit its vertical pivotal upward movement; a second catch disposed beneath said second rod and secured to said platform, said catch being selectively engageable in said notches of said second rod to limit movement of said second rod; and a movable cover provided with an aperture adapted to be disposed above and parallel to said tray, said platform and said base.

2. The device of claim 1, and a masking frame adapted to be disposed in said tray for dividing the total area of said tray into a plurality of spaced areas.

3. The device of claim 1, said notches in each sideface of each of said rods being spaced uniformly, said notches in one of said side faces of each of said rods being spaced a distance from each other which differs from the distance spacing of said notches in the other side faces of each of said rods.

4. The device of claim 3, said first and second rods being rotatably secured to said platform and said tray, each of said rods being provided with a reduced portion, each of said first and second brackets preventing rotary movement of said first ad second rods when said reduced portions are not disposed in said brackets.

CARL L. MOURFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,167,298 Hardy July 25, 1939 2,453,431 Grover Nov. 9, 1948 

